I haven’t posted much recently and in the light of what happened Friday I quite honestly don’t know what to say. I spent the weekend with my kids, family, friends and my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. I consider all of them my babies and sadly they are the same age as those angels that died Friday. I am not going to post a huge rant about gun control or give the aslant any more press time than what he has had. I am going to say it is a tragedy and I grief for their parents who instead of planning an amazing Christmas they are planning funerals for their children.
Friday, I have never seen so many parents at the walking stop and heard so many, “I love you!” I grabbed my daughter and didn’t want to ever let her go. My daughter is the same age as many of those children, one almost the same birthday, even though this tragedy was far away it hit way too close to home for me. I am scared to send my child to school next week because of copy cats, would I mind seeing and armed guard at my child’s school on Monday, no I would not.
There are so many issues that have been brought to the service, gun control, banning guns altogether and mental health issues. I personally think mental health care in this country is awful and more emphasis needs to be placed on mental health services. People need to get help and they are either turned away or brushed under the rug or they don’t think they need help. I am pro-gun and pro-gun control (believe it or not, you can be both). I have owned guns, I have taken gun safety classes. I have also fired an assault rifle and I was scared out of my mind when I did. Guns need to be respected, gun safety should be taught in schools, a written test, psychiatric evaluation should be administered and you should lose this right if you break the law (like voting). If you live with someone with mental health issues then you should either not own a gun or your weapon should be locked down like Fort Knox (it should anyways).
My daughter doesn’t know what happened and I am trying to keep it that way. We did have a discussion on what to do if you see a gun or if you see someone with a gun. Last year in Girl Scouts a Police Officer came in and did a safety course with the girls. She told me, “Mom, I know I need to run, grab my friends and be very quiet and hide if I see someone with a gun. You don’t have to worry because that will never happen.” I smiled and nodded (holding back tears) and told her, “If it does sweetie I know you will be brave and you know what to do.”
I have been fairly unplugged since Friday, spending time with my children, hugging them, playing games, getting ready for Christmas. My heart breaks for those parents who can not hug their child, will not get that Christmas Morning wake up that as parents we all wait for because of this senseless act. I want to believe something good will come of all of this but right now in the cloud of darkness, I see no light and that truly breaks my heart.
Who Are You Calling Crafty? 